Warrior's Slave

Chapter Four

~Five Months Later~

    He ducked and swung his blade. The sound of slicing flesh echoed in his ears as his blade glided over his opponent's stomach. His opponent screamed in pain and fell to his knees. With a warrior's cry, he decapitated the weaker male. Cheers sounded all around him and he looked at all the spectators. His gaze finally landed on potential buyers and he glared. One of those men would own him. One of them would be his master. And one of them will die by my blade one day.

    Four guards came into the arena and disarmed Julian and took him away. He was shoved into a cell where he'd wait for his new master. His hands clenched and unclenched and rage boiled inside him. 

    "Oh, how the mighty have fallen." Julian's gaze snapped up and came in contact with Erik Bavius, a respected man who owns the best gladiators in all of Rome. He was heavyset, his body draped in a purple tunic, and his greying hair cut short. His brown eyes scanned over Julian and he grinned. 

    "A perfect new addition to the House of Bavius."

    A guard opened the cell and pulled Julian out. Shackles were placed on his wrists, ankles, and neck and he was guided out into the cold night where he was pushed into a wooden cage. 

    Erik grinned at him. "Be ready to meet your new family general." Julian snapped his teeth at the man. Bavius was sure to meet the end of Julian’s blade.

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    Marcell cringed as the gladiator was tossed harshly to the ground, the sound of breaking bone echoing throughout the training grounds. Brutal. 

    "Marcell come darling." 

    She nodded and followed her mistress. Marcell was once again a prized slave, except this time her master was female and no male was allowed to touch Marcell without Mistress Camilla's permission and she never gave it.

    They entered the bathing room and Camilla stripped herself. Marcell stood to the side and looked away as two female slaves bathed Camilla. 

    "Oh Marcell you are so adorable I swear." Marcell blushed and her gaze fell onto her feet. 

    "So, have you heard, my husband has bought another gladiator. He bought him last night and the new gladiator will be released today to train. We will, of course, be going to see this new gladiator. Erik calls him ``Fallen Geniká."

    Marcell perched up at that. That was Greek for Fallen General. 

        "It's very insulting to call a Roman a Greek label so that is why he does so. Especially when said Roman used to kill Greeks for a living." She sighed. 

    Marcell zoned out after that. Camilla's words falling upon deaf ears. Fallen Geniká. The only one she knew of was Julian. But surely the gladiator they spoke of was not him. Fate would not be so cruel after all these months. Right?